Spring group assembly



Oct. 27, 1953 J. E. FLESCH SPRING GROUP ASSEMBLY Filed April 2l, 1950 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT o-FFics SPRING SEMBLY John E. Flesch, Los Angeles,

Calif., assignorV to American Steel i Foundries, Chicago,. Ill., a cor` porationY of New Jersey This invention relates to? a package spring group of the type commonly utilized to supporta bolster from a side frame ofA a railway car truck.

A general object of the invention is to devisea springV package group comprising spaced` plates with frictionmeans for controlling movementsof the package andwherein novel removable retain-1` ing means are incorporated to interlock. the parts in.operativelassembly.`

A furtherobject of the inventionis `to provide: simple, eicient lockingor retainer means. which.`

tainer must bermoved consecutively in several angularly related directions to disassemble from the cooperating parts.

These and other objects of the invention will: become more apparent from the specification and the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the package spring` group, embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the group partly in section on theline 2-2 of Figure-1: the

springs in the foreground beingremoved toclari fy the View Figure 3 isasectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-'4 of Figure 2` andillustrating the application of a shim block to adjust the expansion of the group.

Describing the invention in detail,` the novel package springgroup comprises top andbottom spring plates, generally designated. 2. and 4,= having four spring units, each consisting of anouter coil spring 6 and an inner coil spring 8 compressed between the plates. Each of the plates is provided with cored openings l aligned with coil,

springs 8 and is provided with a plurality` of positioning lugs I2, l2 adapted for receptionwithin complementary openings of associated supported and supporting members' such as a bolster and side frame, not shown, of a4 conventional railway car truck. In this connection itmay be noted;

' of'side Walls 22,22;

each other -a'sfat2241 longitudinally `of the group 2. that the grou-p maybe inverted with the plate14 at the'top `and'the pla'te2`1at` the bottom.

The top plate 2 is provided with peripheral arcuate flanges I4mer`ging with lateral or side flanges I6; said anges being adapted to afford positioning means for thesprings 6 and 8l The top plate 21also1c0mprises an integral depending frictionhousingr or top follower including spaced end walls IB integrally" formed withl thetanges I6. Each ofthe end walls.` is formedwith a pair of spaced ledges 20, i 201: sloping .downwardly and inwardly and adapted toV afford wedge seats for an associated friction shoe, asthereinafter de` scribed. I'heiend walls-are'- connected by apair which are. bowed` away from intern'iediate'- their ends and'connected at their upper edgeswith' the underside of thertop plate 2. The' lower edges of the side` walls 22 are ard cuately formedor. cut-outas at 28.

The bottom plate comprises a central friction post or column, generally indicated 30, which extendsV upwardly"from'` the center of` the bottom platcand telescopeswinto the housing` or top fol lower. TheV friction post is substantially square in cro-ss section` and comprises opposed walls 32, 32 and opposedwal'ls 33, 33 lwhich dene a central opening 34 within the post, the lower end ofthe opening 34 extendingthrough thefbottom plate 4; The opposite wallsV 32, 32 of the post extend generally'paralleltotheend walls |8,. i8 of the casing andl are provided with friction plates 36, 36 suitably connectedv thereto asby welding at 38. A friction shoe; generally indicated at 40, is

positioned ateach end oftheV casing` at opposite` sides of the post 30,` the shoe vhaving a main or friction Wall 42' engaging the relatedV friction` plate 3S' and having al bottom or spring seat wall 44 and having' a1 pair of spaced ledges 46, 46,` each engagedwithione of` the ledges 20 of the related friction housing wall I8,` the ledges being connected to a rear Wall 41. A spring, diagram matically indicatediat 48; is housed within each shoe-'for urgingzthefledge's 46 against the engagedV ledges 20 and thereby urgingtheshoe along` said ledges into frictional engagement with therelated friction plate 36;

The plate 2i and the bottom shoe wall 44- are provided with registerable openingsfwand 52; reh1 spectively,y adapted for reception of associated means such as a1 bolt and nut assembly (notA shown) for retracting the shoes duringassembly of the group, as hereinafter described.

The feature? of. thel present invention is; the provision of retaining means `for limiting expansion of and maintaining the spring group in assembled relationship, the retaining means comprising a bar or column 54 within the post 30 and the column or bar 56 connected to the top plate. The bar or stop members 54 and 55 are arranged. parallel and the bar 56 is disposed directly above the bar 54. The bar 54 is located adjacent to the upper end of the friction post 30 centrally between walls 32, 32 parallel thereto and is formed at opposite ends integral with walls 33, 33 of the friction post. The bar 56 extends transversely of the walls 22, 22 of the casing or top follower and at opposite ends is formed integral with the walls 22 and at its top side adjacent each end is formed integral with the underside of the top plate 2. The intermediate portion of the bar 56 extends below an opening 58 formed centrally through the top plate 2. The top plate is reinforced by a depending boss 60 formed around the margins of the opening 58.

A lengthwise vertically extending C-shaped retaining member, generally indicated @2, is disposed between the shoes 45, 45. The retaining member B2 comprises a shank 64 intermediate its ends, said shank extending at its lower end into the upper end of the opening 3Q in the friction post 30 and having a hook portion $6 at its lower end hooked under the bar 54. It will be noted that the shank Eli extends between the bar 54 and adjacent wall 32 and is spaced transversely inwardly of the latter. The upper end of the shank B4 of the retainer member 52 is also provided with a hook 68, the hook 58 passing over the bar 56. It will be noted that the upper end of the shank and adjacent portion of the hook 58 is spaced from the adjacent side of the opening 58. It will also be noted that the hook portions 66 and 63 engage the bar 54 as at 1D and the bar 56 as at 12 respectively, along complementary curved surfaces, whereby the hook portions S5 and 68 have rockable engagement with bars 54 and 56 on axes extending substantially parallel to the generally vertical friction plates 36, 4355 thereby accommodating, without binding, lateral shifting between the top and bottom plates against the action of the friction means. It will be noted that if desired the surfaces at 1li and 12 of the hook portions 66 and 58 may also be curved longitudinally of the spring group. It

will be obvious, however, that longitudinal lateral u and torsional movement between the top and bottom plates is normally not restricted by the retainer inasmuch as the spring group' is normally compressed and hook portion 66 is disengaged from the bar 54 when such movements take place. It will be noted that the upper end of the hook portion 6% alfords a seat at its upper side as at 14 for an associated supported or supporting member such as a bolster or side frame of a railway car truck, the surface at 14 being coplanar with the exterior seat surface 15 of the top plate 2.

The bottom plate is provided with arcuate up standing end flanges 15, 16 merging with lateral flanges 18, 18, said flanges 15 and 18 affording positioning means for the spring units 6, 3. The bottom plate is offset upwardly at its lateral edges to provide pockets as at 80, 8c whereby the bottom plate is adapted to fit on a side frame of a double truss type as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the pockets 80, 80 receiving the secondary trusses of such a side frame.

In assembling the novel unit the springs 48 are inserted into the friction shoes 4i? and the latter are seated against the friction housing ledges 2t and retracted toward the plate 2 as by nut and bolt assemblies (not shown) extending through the openings 56 and 52 to retain the shoes in their innermost retracted position within `the friction housing or top follower. The springs 6 and 3 are then inserted between the plates 2 and 4 'which are seated thereagainst. Then the spring package is compressed. Then the retainer 52 is positioned fiatwise parallel to the bars or lugs 56 and 551 and inserted into position through opening 58 between one side thereof and the adjacent side of bai 5G, the retainer being lowered until the bottom hook portion 6E is disposed below the bar 5d. Then the retainer is turned a quarter of a turn or 90 degrees so that it is positioned flatwise substantially perpendicular to the bars 5t and 54. The retainer is then lowered and the hook portion 53 is engaged as at 12 with the top side of the bar ic. It will be understood that the lower hook lportion S5 will thus automatically assume a position directly beneath the bar 54. It will be noted that the retainer is prevented from rotating parallel to the bars 54 and 56 because of its engagement as at 14 with a member seated on seat 15. It will be noted that the hook portion d5 is wider than the spaces between the bar 54 and either wall 32. Similarly, the hook portion se is wider than the spaces at opposite sides of the bar 55 and the adjacent sides of the opening 58. This arrangement maintains the hook portion @t at least partially in vertical alignment, whereby, when the spring group is expanded, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the hook portion te will receive the bar 54 within its throat 82. It will be understood that preferably the upper and lower hook portions are the same and that the manner of identifying as heretofore is merely to clarify the description.

It will be undersood that in order to disassemble the spring group, the spring group is partially compressed. The retainer is then lifted until the upper hook 58 clears the bar 56 that is, the bar is completely withdrawn from the throat 84 in the hook portion 53. It will be understood that the spring group is sufficiently compressed so that, when the retainer is lifted as just described, the lower hook portion 65 is disengaged from the bar 5ft and the bar 56 is completely out of the throat 32. The retainer is then turned so that its major plane is parallel to the bars 5A and 55. The retainer may then be withdrawn through the opening 54. It will be understood that the retainer 62 may be assembled or disassembled with the top and bottom plates through the lower end of opening 34.

It will be readily appreciated that, if initial pre-compression is desired, a shim block 86 may be disposed between bar 5d and the associated hook portion 55 within the throat thereof. The block may be of nonferrous metal such as aluminum whereby it will be quickly distintegrated by the pounding between the bar and hook portion after few compressions and expansions of the spring group.

I claim:

l. A package spring group comprising spaced top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of springs therebetween, a hollow friction post ccnnected to said bottom plate and extending upwardly therefrom, a transverse bar within the upper end of the post connected thereto, a bar on said top plate above said rstmentioned bar and parallel therewith, said top plate having an opening therethrough above the lbar thereon, and

prising a retainer member extendingfrom one bar to the other along one side thereof and having a hook portion hookedover the bar on the top plate and having another hook portion hooked under the bar in the post, said retainer beingA spaced from the sides of the opening and said post and said hook` portions engaging respective bars along complementary curvedf surfaces concentric with the axes of said barswhereby said top and bottom platesare relatively movable transversely and torsionally of said bars in the expanded condition of said group without interference by said retainer member, said retainer member extending upwardly in said opening and having a top end surface substantially ccplanar with the top side of said plate whereby said retainer member is held tightly in position by an associated member seated thereon, said retainer member being wider than the space between the bar in said post and the adjacent side of the post whereby said retainer member is prevented from canting to a position whereby said other hook portion is always disposed in at least partial vertical alignment with the bar in the post.

2. In a spring group, top and bottom plates, a housing on one plate, a hollow friction post on the other plate telescoping into said housing, friction means carried by said housing at opposite sides of the post in frictional engagement therewith, said one plate having an opening therethrough aligned vertically with the space within said post, a tie bar Within said post at the end thereof adjacent to said one plate, a tie bar on the inside of said one plate extending across said opening, and a retainer member extending between said plates along a side of said bars and having hook portions hooked around the remote sides of said bars in the expanded condition of said group, said bars at said one side being spaced from the adjacent side of the post and opening a suicient distance to admit either hook portion therethrough when the same is positioned atwise substantially parallel to the bars.

3. A spring group comprising top and bottom plates, springs therebetween, a hollow post on said bottom plate, a tie bar within the post and a tie bar on said top plate, said top plate having an opening therethrough above the tie bar thereon, a retainer extending lengthwise between the plates and extending edgewise transversely of the bars in the assembled position therewith and having spaced hook portions extending around the remote sides of said tie bars, said retainer being thinner than the space between the bar on the plate and the adjacent side of the opening and between the bar on the post and adjacent side of the post, said retainer being rotatable when said hook portions are disengaged from said bars to a position flatwise parallel to said bars whereby said retainer may be withdrawn from said post and opening for disassembly.

4. In a spring group, spaced plates, resilient means confined therebetween and means for limiting the expansion of said group comprising a removable retainer extending between said plates and comprising an element hooked at one end to one of said plates and extending through an opening therein, said element and said one plate presenting seating surfaces for an associated member, and a hook portion on the other end of said element arranged to hook behind a portion of the other of said plates, said element being adapted to tightly engage with said one plate when said member is seated onA said surfaces: whereby said element is maintainediin-pos tion to engage behind said portion of the other plate when said group is expanded.

5. In a springgroup, top and bottom plates; retainer means connected between said plates for limiting expansion of the group, said retainer means having a connection at one end with one plate, and a lost-motion connection between the other end of the anchor on the other plate and a hook on said retainer means disposed in assembled condition with the anchor around a side of the anchor remote from the one plate and extending edgewise transversely of said anchor when in assembled condition therewith, said retainer means being movable to a position disposing said hook 4portion atwise along a side of said anchor to accommodate assembly and disassembly of said retainer means with respect to said anchor.

6. A package spring group comprising top and bottom plates, spring means therebetween, anchor means on the adjacent sides of said plates, and removable retainer means extending from the anchor means on one plate to the anchor means on the other plate and hooked around the remote sides of said anchor means in the expanded condition of said group, said retainer means being disengageable from the anchor means on one of said plates when said spring means are compressed causing said plates to be advanced toward each other, and means on said one plate for guiding said retainer means in a path engaging said retainer means with the anchor means on the one plate when said package is expanded.

7. A package spring group comprising spaced plates, springs therebetween, a hollow post on one plate, and retainer means between said plates for limiting expansion of the group, said retainer means comprising a C-shaped member extending into said post at one end and into an opening in the other of said plates at the other end, and abutment means in the post and on said other plate beneath the opening therein extending through said C-shaped member for abutment with respective ends thereof, said post guiding the movement of said member to maintain the portion thereof engageable with said abutment means in the post in substantial alignment therewith longitudinally of the post.

8. In a spring group, spaced plates, springs compressed therebetween, and retainer means between the plates for limiting expansion of the group and comprising a C-shaped member hooked at opposite ends to the respective plates, guide means on at least one of said plates for guiding said member during relative movement of said plates to maintain said member in hooking position with the associated plate, and means on one of said plates accommodating disassembly of said retainer means only upon compression of said group.

9. In a spring group, top and bottom plates, a hollow post on one of said plates extending toward the other, and means for limiting expansion of said group removably connected to said post and other plate and comprising tie bars in said post and on said other plate, said other plate having an opening therethrough in alignment with the bar thereon, and a retainer hooked around the remote sides of said bars.

10. In a spring group, top and bottom plates, spring means therebetween, anchor means on respective plates, and a C-shaped retainer hooked retainer means. and the other plate, said lost-motion connection comprising an around said anchor means to limit expansion of the group, and means for adjusting the expansion of the group interposed between a side of the anchor means on one plate remote from the other and an adjacent portion of the retainer.

11. A package spring group comprising spaced spring plates, a plurality of springs conned therebetween, a hollow member carried by one plate, a transverse bar within said member, a retainer removably connected to the other plate at one end and having a hook portion at the other end extending into said member and j`uxtaposi tioned in hooking relationship to said bar.

JOHN E. FLESCH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,943,492 Symington Jan. 16, 1934 2,400,504 Haseltine May 2l, 1946 10 2,483,181 clasen sept, 27, 1949 2,527,356 Cottrell Oct. 24, 1950 

